MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The end of the softball regular season nears, and with two series left, the ninth-ranked Muleriders gear up for back-to-back weekend series at home. To begin the home stretch, Team 28 looks to take on its in-state rival, Arkansas-Monticello, this weekend.
 
Start Times
The series is set to begin on Thursday with the series doubleheader taking place at 4:00 PM, with the series finale being scheduled for a 1:00 PM start on Saturday.
 
Broadcast Information
This weekend's contests will be broadcast live on the Southern Arkansas University Hudl Fan Page, with Dan Gregory calling all of the action.

Series History
SAU vs. UAM | Apr. 24-25
110^th, 111^th, and 112^th Meeting: UAM leads series 55-54
First Meeting: 4/2/1999 – SAU won 4-1 (Monticello, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 4/15/2025 – SAU won 3-1 (Magnolia, Ark.)
 
SAU Notables
>>> Southern Arkansas enters the week after having won its ninth Great American Conference series, and even after not playing its third game against Southeastern Oklahoma State, the Muleriders sit atop the GAC standings this week. Following an Oklahoma Baptist game three loss to Arkansas Tech, SAU leads the conference with a 22-4 record. The Blue and Gold look to keep up their winning ways against their in-state rival, as SAU is currently on a 12-game winning streak against the Cotton Blossoms, and aim to overtake the lead in the all-time series against UAM.
 
>>> The Muleriders continue to be dominant virtually all-around in the GAC, as the group leads the conference in 19 different statistical categories. For batting, the group leads the league in batting average (.353 | 7^th DII), doubles (75), doubles per game (1.70), hits (425 | 15^th DII), on-base percentage (.445 | 6^th DII), RBIs per game (6.48 | 9^th DII), runs batted in (285 | 11^th DII), scoring (6.95 | 16^th DII), slugging percentage (.544 | 8^th DII), total runs (306 | 15^th DII), sacrifice flies (21 | 10^th DII), triples (11), and triple per game (0.25).
 
>>> Several batters on the lineup for Team 28 have been heavy hitters in the league, as the group has the GAC's leader for batting average, hits, runs scored, and runs batted per game. The conference's top player for batting average and hits is Maddie Leal, as the grad student is leading the league with a .459 batting average (27^th DII) and 62 hits. Just behind Leal in batting average for the GAC is America Rubio, with the senior recording a .443. For runs scored, Sophia Luetticke has scratched across 52 runs this campaign and ranks 12^th in NCAA DII. The GAC's top batter for batting runs per game has been Ame Rubio, with the senior recording an average of 1.31 per game and ranking 15^th in NCAA DII.
 
>>> The Mulerider pitching staff continues to lead the Great American Conference in nearly every statistic regarding the staff. The group ranks first in the league for earned run average (2.03 | 13^th DII), hits allowed per seven innings (5.52 | 11^th DII), shutouts (10 | 16^th DII), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.70 | 19^th DII), and WHIP (1.09 | 10^th DII).
 
>>> Ranking either at or near the top in most statistical categories is Emma Duncan, as the grad student from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Canada leads the GAC in earned run average (1.50 | 16^th DII), hits allowed per seven innings (4.17 | 6^th DII), innings pitched (167.2 | 7^th DII), complete games (16), shutouts (7 | 4^th DII), strikeouts (172 | 9^th DII), strikeouts per seven innings (7.2), WHIP (0.91 | 5^th DII), and victories (22 | 5^th DII).
 
UAM Notables
>>> The Cotton Blossoms are currently on a four-game losing streak, as the group comes off being swept by the East Central Tigers while in Ada, Oklahoma. Before that, the group lost its series finale against Southeastern Oklahoma State in 8 innings after winning the series with wins in games one and two. Arkansas-Monticello is still in the hunt for a GAC Championship Tournament berth, as the group is 7-20 in GAC play, with an overall record of 14-29.
 
>>> For pitching, the Blossoms rank ninth in the league for earned run average, with a 4.26 ERA. The unit is seventh in the GAC for this allowed per seven innings, as they surrender 7.90 hits per seven. For innings pitched, the group is led by Makenzie Martin, as she has pitched in 109.1 innings and is second on the staff for ERA (3.39) with a minimum of 30 IP. This season, she has recorded a 7-9 record with 13 starts in her 28 appearances.
 
>>> The Blossoms' offense currently sits at 3.26 runs scored per game (10^th GAC), and ranks 11^th in the league for hits accounted for (260). For batting average, UAM is led by Jolie Bazan, The junior is the only member of the squad to record a .300+ batting average, as she sits at .309.
 
Follow the Muleriders
For all the latest information on Mulerider Athletics, visit MuleriderAthletics.com. To stay up-to-date, follow the Muleriders on X, Instagram, and Facebook.